Petite Pecan Pies

I remember my first pecan pie at a truck stop in Montana. I was amazed that a pie with no fruit could be so sweet and flavorful. These Ani Phyo cookies are just like the pie with a rich pecan flavor, a hint of cinnamon and citrus fruit and a wonderfully dark maple syrup like sweetness from the dates. They are gooey, sticky and are the perfect individual treat to enjoy immediately. Just ask Patrick, he ate 5!

Petite Pecan Pies

1 c Pecan halves

1/3 c very stick Dates pitted, if hard soak for 30 min in room temp water

1 1/2 tsp Clementine, Tangerine or Orange juice

1/2 tsp Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice

If the dates are not soft and mushy, pit and soak for 30 min in room temperature water. Then drain and squeeze out all of the excess water, set aside. Pulse the pecans in a food processor until a course meal forms. Add the dates, citrus juice and cinnamon and continue to process. Once it starts to stick to the sides of the food processor empty into a bowl and form into cookie shapes by hand. Or if you like an even cookie as shown above, roll out with a rolling pin on wax paper and cut out with cookie cutters. The natural oils from the nuts prevents the rolling pin from sticking to the cookies (no need for flour). Eat right away or let set in fridge for 1 hour. If you want a chewier cookie dehydrate at 115 F for 1 hours.

I have made this recipe several times and tried 2 different type of dates, Medjool and Sukhal. Both times I used 1/3 c and regardless of the type they came out delicious. Medjool (use about 3) was the best as they were stickier and had a richer maple syrup taste but the Sukhal (used about 12) tasted good too 🙂